Bell ringing mechanism



8 6 9 1 2 R m cm m M E EM W. P. WANN BELL RINGING Oct. 4, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1951 INVENTOR. 62/72 Z/cz/znemacfbef Oct.4, 1955 w. P. WANNEMACHER 2,719,958

BELL RINGING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLZflZZZza/n P Zia/272 amaze/2 67 1955 w. P. WANNEMACHER 8 BELL RINGINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: Maia/n Wanna/72ach67 Oct. 4, 1955 Filed Dec. 1, 1951 W. P. WANNEMACHER BELL RINGINGMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent'OT BELL RINGINGMECHANISM William I. Wannemacher, Bloomington, Ill. Application December1, 1951, Serial No. 259,420

25Claims. (Cl. 340-398) This invention relates to a bell ringing deviceparticularly applicable to ring the larger type of bells such as used inchurches, courthouses and other public buildings.

The general practice has been to use one of two ar- :rangements ofmechanisms to ring bells of this character. One method is .to employmechanical means to rock a bell on its supporting trunnions, and thesecond method is to employ electrical means to actuate a striking memberagainst the bell to ring the same. 'These two methods represent thechief means employed at the present time for ringing bells.

.Both of these methods involve the use of complicated massive structuresembodying expensive mechanisms. With the bell rocking systems, themechanism is excessively massive, cumbersome and heavy, requiring theuse of large heavylmotors, and further necessitating special heavywiring installation, all adding tremendously to the costs of suchequipment. Installation and handling plus maintenance .areall consonanthigh cost factors.

Theelectrical systems require large solenoids to actuate bell strikersand the latter normally range in weight from about twenty pounds to overone hundred pounds for the larger bells. Solenoids capable of handlingsuch weights are very expensive and require large amperage current flowall necessitating special transformers and extra heavy wiring or bus barequipment, all entirely out of line with the usual wire installationsemployed by code in buildings. Some cities will not permit suchexcessive intermittent use of amperage since that effects thecurrent usein the 1ines=in the surrounding neighborhood.

It has further been found that solenoid bell ringers do not :producetruebell tones. For the best bell tone a striker of a given weight isrequired which must be actuated rat a moderate rate of speed intocontact with 'the bell.

One of the main objects of the present invention-is to provide a bellringer that simulates the moderate bell striking action of a clapper ofa bell to produce a true clear bell tone ring.

.Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplecomparatively inexpensive mechanism that can be independently supportedfor operation within the bell cavityto ring the bell in clapper fashion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism that iscomparatively light in weight, easily operated, and which can beoperated on the normal building lighting circuit current and voltage.Another object of the present invention is to provide a bell ringingmechanism that uses a striker that is for the greater part substantiallygravity operated to .thus minimize the use ofand requirementforfurtherenergizing or mechanical means to carry out the bellringingfunction ofthestriker.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide agravitationally actuatedstriker that is cyclically controlled betweengiven limits of operation to produce periodic clear ringing bell tones.

2,719,968 Patented Get. 4, 1955 :appear in thefollowing detaileddescription having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the bell ringing mechanism assupported and arranged within the bell cavity and adjacent one side ofthe bell for periodically ringing the latter;

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevational view to that illustrated in Fig. 1but illustrating certain of the parts thereof in changed position;

Fig. 3 is an end .elevational view of the bell ringing mechanism as seenfrom theleftihand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clapper or striker as it appears whenremoved from the balance of the mecha- .nism;

Fig. 5 is a plan edge view of a weight that may be added to the clapperor striker to change the total weight of thelatter;

Fig. 6 is a detail cross sectional View taken vertically through aportion of the bellringing mechanism to illustrate certain details ofconstruction thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view of the brake structure employed in the bell ringingmechanism to automatically lock all of the parts in a predeterminedrelationship after each ringing operation and priorto the nextsuccessive striker operation; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of .the electrical circuitemployed to periodically cause the bell ringing mechanism to operate.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bell ringing mechanism is generally indicatedat 1 for the purpose of striking a peripheraledge of the hell 2, andthis mechanism is supported .upon a suitable frame structure comprisingstandards 3 and 4 connected with cross braces Sand 6 which support avertical panel 7 to which most of the operating parts are attached. Thestandards S and 4 of the frame are suitably mounted upon the floor orany structural member 'such as 8 supported from the building andcomprising a means for positioning the entire bell ringing mechanismwithin the bellcavity 9. l

The :bottom terminal edge portion 10 of the panel '7 isarcuatelyformedfor cooperation with a guide ortrack 11 that is mounted on cross members12 and 13 carried by the standards 3 and 4. A weight in the form of aclapper or striker 14 is ,movably supported between the terminal edge 10and the track 11 and the latter form guide means .for the strikeras thelatter is moved therebetween. It should be noted that the both thecurvature of the terminaledge 10 and the track 11 are substantiallygenerated from the same point and that each of 'these guiding membersterminatein high points 15 adjacent the bell and 16radially'inwardlyfrom thebell edge.

,As best seen .in Figs. 1 and 4, the clapper 14 is provided.withsuitable pairs of wheels 17 and 18 with the latter riding upon thetrack 11 and with theformer engaging the arcuate edge .10 of the panel 7to maintain the clapper .ina predetermined upright position between the.guiding members. The head end 19 of the striker 14 is tapered androunded as at 20 to provide a striking end which will not injure thebell but which will firmly contact the latter to produce the bellringingtone.

The striker 14 is also provided with alaterally'supported roller 21'journalled upon a stub shaft 22, which roller 21 is flanked by a cammember 23 as best shown in Fig. 4.

The striker 14 is held in the position indicated in Fig. 1 'by means ofa latch bar 24 which is pivotally supported.at.25 upon thepanel 7. Thislatch bar "24 is arranged for engageing within a notch 26 that is formedinto the upper surface of the clapper 14. The tail end 27 of the latchbar 24 is urged upwardly in a clockwise direction by means of a spring28 carried upon a projection 29 secured to the panel 7. A suitable stop'pin 30 may be employed to limit the turning motion of 'journalled upona shaft 33 and which gear is driven by a worm 34 journalled in suitablebearings 35 and 36, all supported from the panel 7 and as bestillustrated in Fig. 2.

The drive to the worm 34 is transmitted through a pulley drive as shownin Fig. 3 comprising a pulley 37 mounted upon the worm drive shaft 38which connects with the worm 34, and rotation of the pulley 37 isinstituted through the belt 39 carried by the pulley 40 which is mountedupon a shaft 41 of the motor 42. A magnetic brake arrangement such asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 7 is interposed between the pulley 37 and theworm 34 by connection with the shaft 38. This brake includes a brakewheel 43 fixedly connected to rotate with the shaft 38, which brakewheel is surrounded by a pair of brake shoes 44 and 45 that are pivotedat 46 and 47 upon a supporting member 48 that is connected with'thepanel 7. Both of the brake shoes include radial projections 49 and50 which are normally pressed toward one another by means of the springstructure 51 and against a cam member 52 that is rotatably operated bymeans of a link 53 pivotally connected at 54 to a solenoid structure 55that is vertically actuated by means of the solenoid 56 as best shown inFig. 7.

' This braking arrangement is normally active to hold the brake wheel 43and shaft 38 in a fixed position and release of this braking arrangementis accomplished when the solenoid 56 is energized to cause the cammembe'r'52 to rotate releasing the brake shoes 44 and 45 whereupon thedrive from shaft 38 to the worm 34 may be freely transmitted.

An accelerating arm mechanism 57 comprises a means which is driven bythe worm wheel 32 and which functions for engaging the clapper orstriker to impart additional acceleration to such striker for thepurpose of overcoming frictional retardation and to insure that thestriker will return to its initial position at the forward high point 15of the track guide members. This accelerator arm mechanism comprises anangle member 58 having one leg 59 disposed in a vertical plane andanother leg 60 arranged at right angles to the leg 59, and this anglestructure is pivotally carried at 61 upon a portion of the bearingstructure 36 which is carried by the panel 7. A link 62 is pivotallyconnected with a pin 63 carried in the worm wheel boss 31 and this link62 is also pivotally connected with the leg 59 of the angle member 58upon a pin 64 carried by the latter.

The remaining structure of the accelerator arm 57 comprises a swingablearm 65 which is pivoted at 66 to the leg 60 of the angle member 58 andthis arm 65 operates adjacent the extended portion of the leg 60 of theangle member 58. The extreme outer end of the arm 65 is provided with acam follower 67 which is positioned and arranged for direct cooperationwith a cam 68 that is carried upon a suitable supporting structure 69also mounted upon the cross brace 12 of the frame structure. Theaccelerator arm construction 57 also includes a bracket 70 which issuitably slotted as at 71 to permit swinging of the arm 65 upon itspivot 66, and the bracket 70 carries a leaf spring 72 which is arrangedto engage the edge-of the arm 65 to normally maintain the same againstthe leg 59 of the angle structure 58 in the position best illustrated inFig. 6.

The bell striking mechanism also includes a reactionary structure in theform of a leaf spring structure comprising a spring 73 that is securedto a bracket 74 carried upon the cross brace 5 with the free end 75 ofthe spring being disposed directly in the path of the striker 14 andadjacent the high point 16 of the guide trackway for the striker.

The operation of the bell ringing mechanism is best understood withreference to Fig. 1 which illustrates the various cooperative mechanismsas they appear while in inoperative position. When current is suppliedto the motor 42, the drive is transmitted to the worm 34 by means of thebelt and pulley 39, 40 and 37, and the current supplied to the motor 42is simultaneously arranged for energizing the solenoid 56 to release thebraking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7. As the worm 34 is rotated, theworm wheel 32 begins to rotate in the direction of the arrow 76 whichwill cause the accelerating arm mechanism 57 to move from the full lineposition shown in Fig. 1 toward the dotted line position illustratedtherein. As the hub 31 on the worm wheel 32 is brought into the angularposition illustrated in Fig. 2, the hub 31 will strike the end 27 of thelatch bar 24 releasing the latch bar from the notch 26 in the striker14, thus freeing the striker to permit the latter to roll down theincline of the arcuate supporting track comprising the members 10 and11.

The striker 14 is therefore set into motion by gravity from the highpoint to the right as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 whereby the strikerwould normally roll into the dotted line position as indicated at 77 inFig. 1, from which position the gravitational tendency of the strikerwould be to return to its original position at the right of Fig. 1.However, due to frictional retardation, the striker is somewhat sloweddown and may not entirely come back to its original position. In thepresent device the striker is carried a slight distance from theinterior surface of the bell as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that acertain additional amount of movement is required to bring the strikerinto full bell ringing contact with the interior of the bell, whichmeans that an additional force will be necessary to actuate the strikerover this additional distance. This also requires a slightly greaterlift of the striker as the latter is propelled along the arcuatetrackway.

The accelerator arm 57 provides the means for operating the additionalimpetus to fully overcome this frictional retardation and also totransmit additional energy to the moving striker 14 to firmly andproperly hit the bell in a position beyond the normal latch position ofthe striker. The accelerator arm 57 is so timed and arranged by means ofthe worm wheel link mechanism and the connecting link 62 as to be driveninto the position illustrated in Fig.2 immediately after the clapper 14begins to roll to the left along its trackway. The arm 65 of theaccelerator arm structure 57 will immediately catch up and engage theroller 21 on the clapper since the arm 65 travels slightly faster thanthe clapper in its travel along the trackway by reason of the linkarrangement with the worm gear and the accelerator arm 57. With thisaction, the arm 65 causes the clapper or striker to accelerate along thetrackway into the dotted line position 77 in Fig. 1 where the strikerengages the reactionary spring 73 transmitting its stored energy intothe spring. Immediately thereafter the spring 73 imparts impetus to thestriker 14 in the opposite direction causing the latter to move alongthe tracks 10 and 11 to the right to contact the. bell for ringing thelatter. Each of these reversals at either of the high points along thearcuate trackwayiis aided by the force of gravity acting upon theclapper or striker 14 so that the invention includes a freely travelingweight which requires very little external power to provide a means forovercoming frictional retardation and also for introducing an additionalimpetus to the weighted clapper or striker for hitting the bell in themanner provided by the bell ringing mechanism.

in: the operation of the accelerator arm structure 57, it should benoted that as the latter ismoved to the right in Figs. 1. and 2, thatthe arm engages the cam 23 which causes arm 65 to move outwardly of theclapper for clearing the roller 21, the spring 72 immediately restoringthe arm 65 to its straight line position for engaging in back of theroller 21. This provides a swinging latch which will always properlyengage the roller 21 in its movement to the right as shown in full linesin Fig. 2 and dotted lines in Fig. 1 for properly manipulating. theweighted striker. Furthermore, at the other end of the stroke of thewhipping accelerator arm the cam 68 isengaged by the follower 67 on thearm 65 which forces arm 65 outwardly and away from the plane ofoperation. of the roller 21 so that this arm occupies the. position bestshown in Fig. 3 when the accelerator arm structure attains the positionillustrated in full lines in Fig. 1. This particular arrangement andrelated positions of the parts is brought about immediately prior to thecontact of the spring 73 by the striker 14 whereby the arm 65 isdisposed out ofthe returning path of the clapper and roller 21permitting free movement of the weighted striker 14 to ring the bell.This cycle of operation is repeated each time the bell is sounded.

It should also be understood that when a striker such as 14 hereemployed contacts the bell, the striker momentarily is stopped and doesnot rebound since the bell absorbs the shock. Therefore, after the bellis struck the striker merely returns by gravity to the full lineposition shown in Fig. 1 where it is again caught and latched by thelatch bar 24 engaging within the slot 26 in the clapper.

This particular bell ringing mechanism may be employed for ringing aplurality of bells within. a certain weight range by merely addingweights such as shown at "/8 in Fig. 5. One or more weights such as 78may be suitably bolted to the end 79 of the main weight or clapper 14 toattain a variation in the weight of the latter according. to the size ofthe bells within the range for which this particular mechanism may beemployed. It is also to be understood that the timing cycle may bechanged by varying the size of the pulleys 37 and 40 and through the useof a belt appropriate for driving the pulleys.

To periodically and cyclically control the operation of the bell ringingfunction of the striker, the motor 42" may be energized in the mannerbest illustrated in Fig; 8. This circuit includes a transformer 80, atiming mechanism81, a switch. operating. solenoid 82 and a mechanicallycontrolled switch 83, together with the brake operating solenoid 56. Theswitch 83 is insulated and mounted upon a panel 84 and generally locatedas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the switch 83 is operated bymeans of the link 62 of the bell ringing mechanism. This link 62 whensituated in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 is in contact with a camclip 85 as shown in Fig. 8 and when the parts are in the relationshipillustrated, the switch contacts, 86 and 87 are open and separated attheends of the resilient spring elements 88 and 89 respectively. Switch83 closes immediately upon movement of the link 62 in the direction ofthe arrow 90 which is also the direction of rotation of the worm wheel32. The.

motor 42 is energized by means of the timing mechanism.

81 which. includes a time clock 91 arranged to drive the timing wheel 92which is notched as at 93 to receive the projection 94 of the contactlever 95 within such notches. The lever 95 is pivoted at 96 and isprovided with a contact 97 for engagement with an adjustable contact 98whenever the projection94 drops into one of the-notches When the timeclock 91 rotates the timing wheel 92' in the direction of the arrowindicated in Fig. 8, pro jection 94 will drop into a notch 93 completingthe circuit through the contacts 97 and 98 as follows. Current is takenfrom the 110 volt lines 99 and 100 by means 'of alead 101 to thetransformer 80 which reduces the 110 volt house current to a 24 voltcircuit current for operating the incidental devices used in controllingthe circuit to the motor 42. The positive transformer current from theline 101 is continued through the line 102 for connection with theterminal 98 of the timing switch. When arm 95 is dropped to complete thecircuit through the contact 97 the current flows through the leads 103and 104 to energize the switch operating solenoid 82 closing thesolenoid switch 83 with the solenoid current returning through lead 105back through the transformer 80 and line 106 to the negative side 100 ofthe house current. As the switch 83' is closed, an independent circuitis established to operate the motor 42 and to energize the solenoid andbrake mechanism 56 releasing the brake and permitting the motor drive tobe transmitted to the bell operating mechanism. This motor circuitcomprises a line 107 leading from the positive side 99 of the housecurrent to the motor through the line 108 with the line 109 returningthrough switch 83 and throughlead 110 to the negative side 100 of thehouse line. A parallel circuit is established by means of the leads 111and 112 to operate the brake solenoid 56.

The moment the switch 83' is closed by the timing mechanism, the worm 34rotates the worm wheel 32 which immediately moves link 62 in thedirection of the arrow 90 as illustrated in Fig. 8. At this instant, thecam clip 85 is freed from the end 113 of the link 62 permitting thecontacts 86 and 87 to close, thereby establishing an auxiliary circuitto hold the solenoid switch 83 closed after the timing mechanism againoperates the contacts 97 and 98. This new circuit establishes a flow ofcurrent through the line 114 from the positive side 99 of the house linethrough the switch 83 back through the-line 115 and through the lead 104through the switch operating solenoid 82. This circuit is then completedas before through the line 105' through the transformer 80 and line 106back to the negative side of the house current.

When" this condition exists, the motor 42 continues to operate until thelink 62 has completed its cycle of operation for actuating theaccelerating arm 57 at which time link 62 again comes into the positionshown in Fig. 8. When this occurs, the cam clip 85 is: again actuated toopen the contacts 86 and 87 whereupon the solenoid switch 83 is openedsince the switch operating solenoid 82' is immediately deenergized andthis brings about the immediate interruption of the house current to themotor 42 and brake solenoid 56. Overrunning of the motor drive to theworm 34 is, therefore, instantly stopped by the brake structureillustrated in Fig. 7 after the solenoid 56 i's deenergized.

This cyclic operation can be repeated according to the particular typeof timing wheel used at 92 as controlled by the time clock 91.

The foregoing description is directed to a preferred embodiment of thebell ringing mechanism of the present invention. It is to be understood,however, that certain changes and modifications are contemplated whichwill not depart from the general concept of this invention.

Such changes and modifications shall be governed by the breadth andscope of the appended claims directed to this invention.

What I claim is:

l. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support having spaced elevated portions thereon, saidstriker being carried for reciprocable movement upon said guides andarranged for gravitational operation to and fro therealong and betweensaid spaced elevated portions of said guides, and said supportcomprising means to position said guides in predetermined relation withrespect to a bell whereby the bell iscontacted by said striker.

2. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support, said striker being carried for reciprocablemovement upon said guides and arranged for gravitational operation toand fro therealong, and said support comprising means to position saidguides in predetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the bellis contacted by said striker during one direction of movement of thestriker, and operative means including a swingably supported memberconstructed and arranged for abuttingly coacting with said striker tocontrol the motion of the striker relative to said guides while saidstriker moves in said one direction.

3. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support having spaced elevated portions thereof, saidstriker being carried for reciprocable movement upon said guides andarranged for gravitational operation to and fro therealong and betweensaid spaced elevated portions of said guides, and said supportcomprising means to position said guides in predetermined relation withrespect to a bell whereby the bell is contacted by said striker, andperiodically operable mechanism cooperating with said striker tocyclically control the striker for the bell ringing operation.

4. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support, said striker being freely carried for back andforth movement upon said guides and arranged for gravitational operationtherealong, and said support comprising means to position said guides inpredetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the bell iscontacted by said striker, and striker accelerating mechanism includingan operable striker engaging member constructed and arranged forintermittent striker contact and to impart impetus to said striker whilethe latter is in motion and during one direction of movement of thestriker along said arcuate guides.

5. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides carried upon said support and constructed and arranged to provideat least two elevated positions thereon, said striker being carried forback and forth movement upon said guides and arranged for gravitationaloperation therealong and between said two elevated positions on saidguides, and said support comprising means to position said guides inpredetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the bell iscontacted by said striker, and striker accelerating mechanism includingan operable striker engaging member to impart impetus to said strikerand at least during one direction of movement of the striker along saidarcuate guides, and releasable latch means to retain said striker in oneof said two elevated positions upon said arcuate guides.

6. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support, said striker being carried for movement uponsaid guides and arranged for gravitational operation therealong, andsaid support comprising means to position said guides in predeterminedrelation with respect to a bell whereby the latter is contacted by saidstriker, and striker accelerating mechanism including an operablestriker engaging memher to impart impetus to said striker and at leastduring one direction of movement of the striker along said arcuateguides, and releasable latch means to position said striker in apredetermined inoperative raised location upon said arcuate guides, andpower driven mechanism connected to actuate said striker acceleratingmechanism and including means to release said latch means atpredetermined cyclic periods.

7. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a

striker, and arcuate guides on said support, said striker.

being carried for movement upon said guides and arranged forgravitational operation therealong, and said support comprising means toposition said guides in predetermined relation with respect to a bellwhereby the latter is contacted by said striker, and strikeraccelerating mechanism including an operable striker engaging member toimpart impetus to said striker and at least during one direction ofmovement of the striker along said arcuate guides and releasable latchmeans to position said striker in a predetermined inoperative raisedlocation upon said arcuate guides, and power driven mechanism connectedto actuate said striker accelerating mechanism and including means torelease said latch means at predetermined cyclic periods, and timecontrol means connected with said power driven mechanism to periodicallyinstitute a striker cycle of operation to ring the bell.

8. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support, said striker being carried for movement uponsaid guides and arranged for gravitational operation therealong, andsaid support comprising means to position said guides in predeterminedrelation with respect to a bell whereby the latter is contacted by saidstriker, and striker accelerating mechanism including an operablestriker engaging member to impart impetus to said striker and at leastduring one direction of movement of the striker along said arcuateguides, and releasable latch means to position said striker in apredetermined inoperative raised location upon said arcuate guides, andpower driven mechanism connected to actuate said striker acceleratingmechanism and including means to release said latch means atpredetermined cyclic periods, and time control means connected with saidpower driven mechanism to periodically institute a striker cycle ofoperation to ring the bell, said time control means having a positivetiming element connected therewith to operate associated meanscontrolling said power driven mechanism whereby periodic bell ringingcombinations are obtainable.

9. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, and arcuateguides on said support arranged concavely upwardly and for dispositionwith one raised end of said guides adjacent one side portion of a belland with the other raised end of said guides located away from said sideportion of the bell, said striker being carried for movement upon saidguides and arranged for gravitational operation therealong, and saidsupport comprising means to position said guides in predeterminedrelation with respect to said side portion of said bell whereby the bellis contacted by said striker, and striker accelerating mechanismincluding an operable striker engaging member to impart impetus to saidstriker and at least during one direction of movement of the strikeralong said arcuate guides, and releasable latch means to position saidstriker in a predetermined inoperative raised location upon said arcuateguides, and rebound means for said striker, said latch means beingpositioned adjacent one raised end of said arcuate guides, and saidrebound means being positioned adjacent the other raised end of saidguides.

10. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, andarcuate guides on said support, said striker being carried for movementupon said guides and arranged for gravitational operation therealong,and said support comprising means to position said guides inpredetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the latter iscontacted by said striker, and striker accelerating mechanism includingan operable striker engaging member to impart impetus to said strikerand at least during one direction of movement of the striker along saidarcuate guides, and releasable latch means connected with said strikerto position said striker in a predetermined inoperative raised locationupon said arcuate guides, and rebound means for said striker, said latchmeans being positioned adjacent one end of said arcuate guides, andsaid-rebound means being positioned adjacent the other end of saidguides, and striker accelerating mechanism arranged for limited contactwith said striker upon release of the striker by said latch means, saidaccelerating mechanism imparting additional impetus to thegravitationally operated striker and in the direction of said reboundmeans.

11. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a

striker, and arcuate guides on said support, said striker being carriedfor movement upon said guides and arranged for gravitational operationtherealong, and said support comprising means toposition saidguides inpredetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the (end of saidarcuate guides, and said-rebound'means being positioned adjacent theother end of said guides, and

striker accelerating mechanism arranged for limited contact with saidstriker upon release of the strikerby said latch. means, saidaccelerating mechanism imparting additional impetusto thegravitationallyoperated striker and inthe direction of saidreboundmeans, and cooperative means carried by said striker acceleratingmechanism and said striker whereby said latter mechanism and striker areoperatively connected and disconnected between predetermined limits ofmotion of said striker along said arcuate guides.

12. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a support, a striker, andarcuate guides on'said support, said striker being carried for. movementupon said guides and ar ranged for gravitational operation therealong,and said supportcomprising means to position said guides inpredetermined relation with respect to a bell whereby the latter.iscontacted by said striker, and striker accelerating mechanismincluding an operable striker engaging member to impart impetus to saidstriker and at least during one direction of movement of the strikeralong said arcuate guides, andreleasable latch means towposition saidstriker in a predetermined inoperative raised location upon said arcuateguides, and rebound means for said striker, said latch means being.positioned adjacent one end of said arcuate guides, andsaid reboundmeans being positioned adjacent the other-end of said guides, andstriker accelerating mechanism arranged for limited contact with saidstriker upon release of the striker by said latch means, saidaccelerating mechanism imparting additional impetus to thegravitationally operated striker and in the direction of said reboundmeans, and cooperative means carried by said striker acceleratingmechanismand said striker whereby said latter mechanism and striker areoperatively connected and disconnected between predetermined limits ofmotion of said striker along said arcuate guides,.said cooperative meanscomprisingan arm supported to bodily swing adjacent the plane of thearcuate guides, an abutment unit onsaid striker for engagement by saidarm, said abutment unit and arm being disposed in 'thesame plane ofoperation, said arm'being arranged to swinglaterally out of said planeof operation, and canrmeans carried bysaid striker and bysaid support toactuate .said arm laterally outwardly whereby the arm may swing in onedirection to engage behind the striker abutment unit and be releasedtherefrom as said. arm swings in another direction.

13. A bell ringing mechanism comprising an arcuate guideway curvingconcavely upwardly, a bell striking member supported for gravitationalmovement along said guideway, releasable detent means coacting with saidmember to hold the same at a predetermined elevation upon one portion ofsaid guideway, and operative'mechanism to release said detent means to:fre'e'said member for gravitational motion along said guideway throughthe lowermost portion thereof and toward another elevated portion ofsaid guideway disposed substantially at the elevation of said startingpoint, wherebysaid member reverses for gravitational motion toward thestarting point, said guideway being positioned with said starting pointadjacent a bell to direct saidbell striking member thereagainst.

and fro gravitationaloperation between said elevated ends on saidupwardly ycurved guideway, one of saidguideway ends being disposedadjacent said bell whereby the bell is contacted by said striker eachtime the striker reaches said one guideway end.

15. A bell ringing mechanism comprising a framework supported adjacentaside of a bell, anupwardly curved guideway on said framework positionedin a given relation to the side of the bell, and a striker movablysupported upon said guideway for gravitational operation between twohigh points on said guideway, one of said high points being adjacentsaid bell whereby the bell is contacted by said striker each time thestriker'reaches said one high point, power operated mechanism toperiodically regulate the movements of said striker in its travelbetween said high points on said guideway, and automatic brake meansconnected with said power operated mechanism and arranged to interruptthe bell ringing cycle of the associated moving parts of said mechanismatta predetermined period for each subsequent cyclic operation ofsuchparts.

16. A mechanism for ringing a bell comprising an inclined guidewaysupported to terminate adjacent one wall of abell, said guideway havinga high point thereon located adjacent saidbell wall, a weight mountedupon said guideway for gravitational movement therealong, latchmechanism to retain said weight at said high point andin predeterminedrelation with respect to said bell wall, control means to release saidlatch mechanism to free said weight for gravitational movement down saidinclined guideway and away from said bell wall, rebound means disposedin predetermined relation with respect to said guideway and away fromsaid bell wall and in position to be engaged by said weight, andaccelerating mechanism arranged to coact with said weight and to impartincreased momentum to the weight upon release of the latter in thedirection of said rebound means and to cause said weight to strike saidrebound means whereby the motion of said weight is reversed and saidWeight is propelled upwardly alongsaid inclined guideway to strike saidbell wall.

17. A mechanism for :ringing a bell comprisingan inclined guidewaysupported to terminate adjacent one wall of a bell, said guidewayhavinga high point thereon located adjacent said bell wall, a weight mountedupon said guideway .for gravitational movement therealong, latchmechanismto retain said weight at said high'point and in predeterminedrelation with respect to said bell Wall, control means to release saidlatch mechanism to free said-weight for gravitational movement down saidinclinedguideway andaway from said bell wall, rebound means disposed inpredetermined relation with respect to said guideway and away from saidbellwall and in position to be engaged by saidweight, and acceleratingmechanism arranged to coact with said weight and to impart increasedmomentum to the weight upon release of the latter in the direction ofsaid rebound means and to cause said weight towstrike said rebound meanswhereby the motion of said weight is reversed and said Weight ispropelledjupwardly along said inclined guideway to strike said bellwall, said accelerating mechanism comprising a swingably operated memberarranged for bodily contact with said weight and for a limited portionofthe gravitational movement of the weight in its travel between saidlatch mechanism and said rebound means.

18. A mechanism for ringing a-bell comprising an inclined guidewaysupp'o'rted'to terminate adjacent one wall of a bell, said guidewayhaving a high point thereon located adjacent said bell wall, a weightmounted upon said guideway for gravitational movement therealong, latchmechanism to retain said weight at said high point and in predeterminedrelation with respect to said bell wall, control means to release saidlatch mechanism to free said weight for gravitational movement down saidinclined guideway and away from said bell wall, rebound means disposedin predetermined relation with respect to said guideway and away fromsaid bell wall and in position to be engaged by said weight, andaccelerating mechanism arranged to coact with said weight and to impartincreased momentum to the weight upon release of the latter in thedirection of said rebound means and to cause said weight to strike saidrebound means whereby the motion of said weight is reversed and saidweight is propelled upwardly along said inclined guideway to strike saidbell wall, said accelerating mechanism comprising a swingable armmounted for movement along the path of operation of said weight, anabutment member on said weight disposed in the path of said arm, anddriving means to swing said arm to and fro along said weight path and tobodily actuate said weight along said guideway away from said bell wall,said arm including releasable means thereon arranged for disengagementfrom said abutment member at one point along the path of travel of saidweight, and said releasable means being constructed and arranged toreengage said abutment member on said weight at another point along thepath of travel of said weight.

19. A mechanism for ringing a bell comprising an inclined guidewaysupported to terminate adjacent one wall of a bell, said guideway havinga high point thereon located adjacent said bell wall, a weight mountedupon said guideway for gravitational movement therealong, latchmechanism to retain said weight at said high point and in predeterminedrelation with respect to said bell wall, control means to release saidlatch mechanism to free said weight for gravitational movement down saidinclined guideway and away from said bell wall, rebound means disposedin predetermined relation with respect to said guideway and away fromsaid bell wall and in position to be engaged by said weight, andaccelerating mechanism arranged to coact with said weight and to impartincreased momentum to the weight upon release of the latter in thedirection of said rebound means and to cause said weight to strike saidrebound means whereby the motion of said weight is reversed and saidweight is propelled upwardly along said inclined guideway to strike saidbell wall, said accelerating mechanism comprising a member movable alongthe path of motion of said weight, and variable drive means connectedwith said member and arranged to actuate the latter at an acceleratedrate of speed ranging at least from the normal gravitationally inducedstarting speed of said weight to a rate of speed greater than the normalaccelerated rate of motion of said weight along said guideway.

20. A mechanism for ringing a bell comprising an inclined guidewaysupported to terminate adjacent one wall of a bell, said guideway havinga high point thereon located adjacent said bell wall, a weight mountedupon said guideway for gravitational movement therealong, latchmechanism to retain said weight at said high point and in predeterminedrelation with respect to said bell wall, control means to release saidlatch mechanism to free said weight for gravitational movement down saidinclined guideway and away from said bell wall, rebound means disposedin predetermined relation with respect to said guideway and away fromsaid bell wall and in position to be engaged by said weight, andaccelerating mechanism arranged to coact with said weight and to impartincreased momentum to the weight upon release of the latter in thedirection of said rebound means and to cause said weight to strike saidrebound means whereby the motion of said weight is reversed and saidweight is 12 propelled upwardly along said inclined guideway to strikesaid bell wall, said accelerating mechanism comprising a member movablealong the path of motion of said weight, and variable drive meansconnected with said member and arranged to actuate the latter at anaccelerated rate of speed ranging at least from the normalgravitationally induced starting speed of said Weight to a rate of speedgreater than the normal accelerated rate of motion'of said weight alongsaid guideway, said movable member comprising a swingably mounted arm,and said variable drive means including crank and link means connectedwith said movable arm.

21. A mechanism to ring a bell comprising a trackway having upwardlyinclined ends with one end thereof supported adjacent one wall portionof a bell, a weighted bell striker, retention mechanism to normally holdsaid striker in an elevated position at onetend of said trackway forgravitational movement to and fro upon and along said trackway, saidbell being contacted by said striker in its to and fro motion over saidtrackway, and supplementary weight sections for attachment to saidstriker to provide means to increase the total overall weight of saidstriker and to accelerate the to and fro travel of said striker oversaid trackway to build up the impact energy of said striker inproportion to the mass and size of the bell associated therewith.

22. A mechanism to ring a bell comprising a guideway supported in agiven relation with respect to one portion of the wall of a bell, astriker of a given weight mounted for movement upon and along saidguideway, cooperative mechanisms coacting with said striker to controlthe movement of said striker in back and forth relation upon theguideway and to cause said striker to engage said bell wall during atleast one direction of motion thereof, and cooperative separable partsincluding weight sections arranged for securement to said striker toincrease the total operative weight of said striker according to themass and size of the associated bell therewith, and coacting mechanismsconnected with said striker to control and limit the travel of saidstriker along said trackway, one of said mechanisms comprising a latchunit to retain said striker at one location along said guideway, and theother mechanism comprising a resilient rebound unit at another locationalong said guideway.

23. A mechanism to ring a bell comprising a trackway having upwardlyinclined ends with one end thereof supported adjacent one wall portionof a bell, a bell strikercomprising a weight, and wheeled means thereonengaging said trackway to guide the weight in a given and orientedrelation along said trackway, said weight being arranged and supportedfor back and forth gravitational motion over said trackway whereby tointermittently strike and ring said bell, and impetus mechanismcomprising a movable element arranged for actuation in a given path withrespect to said weight, and an abutment on said weight engageable bysaid element, said wheeled means and trackway functioning to maintainsaid weight and its abutment in operable relation with respect to saidmovable element during the motion of said weight over said trackway.

24. A mechanism to ring a bell comprising a trackway having upwardlyinclined ends with one end thereof supported adjacent one wall portionof a bell, a bell striker comprising a weight, and wheeled means thereonengaging said trackway to guide the weight along said trackway and in apredetermined oriented relation with respect to said trackway, saidweight being arranged and supported for back and forth gravitationalmotion over said trackway whereby to intermittently strike and ring saidbell, and coacting mechanisms connected with said striker to control andlimit the travel of said striker along said trackway comprising alatching unit to engage a given portion of said striker, and a reboundunit, both of said units occupying predetermined positions with respectto said trackway, and said wheel means functioning to main- 13 tain saidcoacting mechanisms and said striker in their respective cooperativeworking relationships.

25. A mechanism to ring a bell comprising a trackway having upwardlyinclined ends with one end thereof supported adjacent one wall portionof a bell, a bell striker comprising a weight, and wheeled means thereonengaging said trackway to guide the weight along said trackway, saidweight being arranged and freely supported for back and forthgravitational motion over said trackway and from one to the other ofsaid inclined ends thereof whereby to intermittently strike and ringsaid bell, said trackway including at least one weight supporting rail,and said wheeled means having operative rolling connection with saidrail to carry the striker therealong to continuously engage said bell ina given oriented and predetermined relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

